Aquatic

*Com-fucking-pleted* Hydrophobia: Being afraid of water, excluding running water. Melita Young, (who is already crazy enough) has this phobia. And, as she pines after her best friend that she's never going to get, dealing with the fact that some strange things are going on in Baltimore, and now that some pretty strange things are happening to her, Melita doesn't know what's going on. But she does know that there is a secret - and very good reason - as to why she has this hydrophobia in the first place, and it's down at the bottom of the ocean.
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Chapters:

It seemed to take forever to reach the top of the
stairs. It was like if we took one step, two more grew. By the
time Dre and I had reached the time, I was out of breath and I
was sweating the slightest by my eyebrows. I could tell that Dre
was amused that I was so flustered, but he didn't outright smile
at me because he knew that I was still mad at him. It was true,
the longer I was around him, the more our friendship was
returning back to normal. But I didn't like it either stage.

I didn't like how I pined after Dre for years and
years, and he decides that he can't be with me, for unknown
reasons. And I didn't like how he became so extremely jealous
whenever I brought up Ivan. Sure, he was protective over me
during both ways, but we would always be stuck in the same rut.

Anyways, once we reached the top, there was a large,
black door just sitting there. It had intricate designs across
the front, similar to the mirror I had looked in while I was in
the room where the floor broke underneath me. (And I swear, I'm
not fat, but I'm not a twig, either. Dre's mind really knew how
to hurt a girl, really.) And speaking of the mirror, my
appearance still looked the same: the black and white dress -
with no gray it in, I noticed - with the long black hair and
antique-looking ring.

I stood in front of the door while Dre stood beside
me, giving me an expectant look. "What?" I asked, getting
uncomfortable under his unwavering gaze.

"Well, aren't you going to open it?" He asked.

"It's your head," I said sarcastically,
raising my eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, but I'm not the one who needs to walk up these
stairs. It's you." He replied, giving me a defiant look like he
had checkmated me or something.

I gave him an exasperated sigh and one of my infamous
death stares before turning back to the door. There were two
vertical handles near the opening, and I pulled on to them, half
expecting for some vexes or something to burst out the door. But
as they swung open against the great wind that seemed to be
carried underneath them, nothing just out or scared me or
anything. They swung open, and revealed a terrible outstretch of
land.

"What happened here?" I breathed as I took a step
back away from the door frightened by what I saw.

Dre walked past me, his shoulder brushing up against
me as he looked sadly at the expanse of land in front of me.
"It's the Twilight Realm."

"Like the Twilight Zone?" I tried to joke, but I
couldn't help but just feel depressed as I looked in front of me.

"No," Dre laughed humorlessly. "If you die here, so
does your soul."

That one really sent me for a loop. If I died, my
soul would die, too? I could deal with that…what would
that mean, anyway? Would I just be a ghost wandering around the
earth, never being able to really die?

"Come on. I know where to go." Dre said, no emotion
in his voice as he started to walk ahead of me. The sight of the
Twilight Realm really depressed him, but then again, who
wouldn't it depress?

There was just an outstretch of flat, gray land.
There were wilted plants, similar to the space in front of the
castle, well, Dre's mind. The sky was completely covered in a
thick layer of one gigantic black cloud, which still attracted
the little pieces of the weird inky black substance that floated
out of the ground. But then, there were these scarlet red
splatters in the gray sky, like someone had taken a paintbrush
and splattered paint all over the sky. Except, it didn't look
like paint, it looked like actual blood.

Finally noticing that Dre was several yards away from
me, I started to jog to catch up to him. I was hesitant as I
thought of a question to ask him since he looked so…emotionless.

"…Why does it look like there's blood in the sky?" I
asked quietly, looking thoughtfully at him.

He sent me a look that made me feel like an idiot.
"Because the sky rains blood."

I was dumbfounded as I said, "W-what? How? How is
there blood in the sky?"

"It feeds off of it." He said simply, like it wasn't
a big deal that blood rained out of the skies.

"Oh. Okay." I said, feeling stupid for not knowing
what else to say besides that. We walked in silence for the most
part, while my mind was racing.

So, I was finally in the Twilight Realm, which
probably held the Twilight Elements within. Did that mean he was
finally going to tell me what was going on? Finally, someone was
going to tell me the truth. After all, he didn't even hesitate to
tell me that was blood in the sky.

"Uh, Dre, can I ask you another question?" I said,
after several minutes of silence.

"Sure." He said, not even looking at me.

"Uh, what's the little pieces of black stuff that
floats up from the ground?" I asked.

"Darkness," He said softly, his eyelids drooping a
little, as if the questions I asked him affected him in some
negative kind of way. "It grows from the ground…from the monsters
here. And then it floats to the sky, joining the blood, and rains
back down as acid. Then it starts over again."

"Oh," I said again, feeling embarrassed that I had to
ask so many questions and he was barely reacting. "Um, where are
we going?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He said drily, finally looking at
me and realized with a start that his eyes had turned back to the
red color. I struggled to flinch away from him, and I could tell
he knew how difficult it was for me to look at him.

"Well, since we're still in my mind, this isn't how
the Twilight Realm in its present state," he started to explain.
"This is a memory in my mind, and we're just reliving it. We're
going to the castle, the heart of the realm, where my f-father
lives." He stuttered, and looked embarrassed because of it.

"Your dad?" I echoed, looking at him in complete
shock, my eyes involuntarily bugging out. "I thought…you didn't
know your dad, that he had left you and your mom. You've known
where your dad has lived this whole time? You lied to me?" I
cried.

Dre rolled his eyes at me like it was childish of me
to say such things. "Jesus Mel, not everything is about you. It
doesn't matter that I lied, it's because I couldn't tell you." He
enunciated, giving me a seriously pissed off look.

I felt bad for sounding selfish, but I tried not to
let him show that he was right. "It's just that no one's been
telling me anything, and they all want me to rule over the
kingdom; which I know nothing about, and everyone
expects me to be fine with it!"

"Because that's your job!" Dre cried, rounding back
on me.

"Well sorry!" I yelled. We had both stopped to yell
each other and had been so caught up in our shouting match that I
hadn't noticed that we were standing right in front of a black
castle, similar to the first one I had first went into.

Whoa, wait. I said, becoming mystified.
We're in a castle inside…a castle? I couldn't help but
think. I wasn't this confused and fascinated since I had gotten a
book full of Christmas tales and on the cover, it was Santa Claus
painting the cover of the book that he was already on. So it was
like he was painting a book inside a book, inside a book, inside
a book, inside a book….

"You're mind's jacked up, Mel," Dre suddenly
interrupted me, smirking at me as I could see from the corner of
my eye.

"Say what?" I said, annoyed that I had been yanked
out of my crazy thoughts. "Were you reading my mind again? You
better stop; that's pretty irritating."

"Can't help it," He said sheepishly, but I could tell
that he didn't really mean it. "I can't read it in real life, so
don't even sweat it."

I rolled my eyes as I said, "So now you don't feel
like yelling at me anymore? That's refreshing." I replied
sardonically.

"Stop being a baby and follow me." He said, finally
settling the conversation as he sent me a sideways smile. To my
surprise, he grabbed my hand and I had to resist the urge not to
pull away.

What's happening to me? I questioned myself.
If this had been a few months ago, I would have been psyched at
the idea of Dre holding my hand. But now, it made me feel a
little guilty. Guilty because I felt like I should be with Ivan?

I sent a sideways look to see if maybe had Dre read
my thoughts, but his nonchalant expression told me that he hadn't
bothered to. He led me up the long stairs to the front of the
castle, which was stained with blood outside the door. I looked
warily at it, getting the feeling that there had been a lot of
killing inside. I don't know how I knew; it was just a gut
feeling that I was sure of.

"Open," He said softly, looking at me with a worried
look.

I didn't say anything, just watched as the door
slowly swung open with an extended creak, just like in the murder
movies. Crap, why did I have to think of that analogy?

Dre let go of my hand, sending me a questioning look
to see if I was going to say anything about his opening the door
with only his voice. Personally, I really was curious, but I had
a feeling that he wouldn't really be able to explain to me how he
did it. Not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know
how to. Then again, I could have been just kidding myself.

"I'm not even going to ask," I replied drily.

He didn't say anything; just accepted the fact that I
no longer was bothered about him keeping the truth from me.
Except it really did irk me still, I just couldn't let him know
that.

"Can still hear your thoughts," He cut in, giving me
a sarcastic look. "Pull your head out of your ass so we can hurry
and get this over with."

I gave him an offended look. "Pull my head out of my
ass? I'll let you know that my head is perfectly fine where it is
right now; and it's definitely NOT in my ass!" I yelled, getting
a little more irked.

Dre just raised his eyebrow at me while raising his
eyebrows and crossing his arms. He tapped an imaginary watch on
his wrist. "Wasting time here, Mel."

"Time for what?!" I cried. "You're being ridiculous!
If anything, you're the one who has the head up my ass-
er, your ass of your head. In-in your ass. Because your head,
would definitely not be, you know, in my…ass." I stuttered,
trying to be serious through the whole rant, but I completely
messed up in the middle.

You know, when I basically told him that his head was up my ass.

Gah, my in fact, I don't even really know where my head was at
that moment…

"You're so awkward," Dre said, smiling at me widely,
dropping his confusing serious demeanor. "You said my head was up
your ass."

"Yeah, well, it's obviously not so let's just drop
the subject," I mumbled, feeling completely embarrassed. I
avoided his eyes as I said, "Let's just go inside the
castle-thingy, okay?"

"Right-o," He said, still smirking at me from the
side. We walked into the castle, side-by-side, silently.

We entered through the castle, and I found myself a
little dumbfounded. To be honest, the castle looked identical to
the one that was originally Dre's mind, but this one looked
more…sinister. There wasn't a lick of white or gray, just
complete mundane black. And this was coming from someone who
loves the color black. My closet is like 50% black and the other
50% is mostly blue and red. Which my mom always complains about,
saying that I need more "variety". Well excuse me for not being a
girly-girl and completely in love with pink and bright purple,
which is exactly what my mom wants to be.

There was only one staircase, which was completely
black and matched the cobblestone floor and stained glass
windows. To the right, in my peripheral vision, I could see
double doors with big circular windows on them, which I guessed
was an entrance to the kitchen.

"This is where my father lives," Dre said, his eyes
flat and dull-looking. "He's ruler."

I looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to say
something like ruler of a car dealership or something mundane
like that. But he didn't say anything, even though I knew he
could see me looking at him from the corner of his eyes.

"…of what?" I said slowly, still staring at him.

"The Twilight Elements." He said blatantly.

I rolled my eyes at him, the frustration continuing
to boil up inside of me. "Oh my god, when are you going to tell
me what those are?"

I wanted to slap him right then, I really did. It
took every fiber of my being not to, but I didn't in the end. "I
don't think that everything is about me," I said through gritted
teeth. "But I do think it's pretty shitty of you not to explain
anything to me; you just think I know everything, when I don't!"
I cried.

"Mel," Dre said, calming himself down. Lately, he was
all moody and PMS-y. It was unsettling for me. "What I'm saying
is, that this is it. I'm about to show you what the Twilight
Elements are all about."

"Then why are you going so slow?" I involuntarily
whined. "Don't you think I can handle it?"

"It's not that, it's just things are very…," He
struggled to find the right words to use. "Difficult for me.
Alright?"

"What does that mean, exactly?" I said, not fully
understanding.

"Mel," He repeated my name, this time putting his
hands on my shoulders and looking at me. I knew he was serious.
"You know that I've been keeping things from you, right?" He
asked me, his eyes wide with worry.

"Y-yeah…" I replied hesitantly. What was going on
with Dre? What was he about to tell me?

He took a deep breath, like it took a lot energy just
for him to talk. "I'm a hybrid, just like you. But…I'm completely
dark. You know how you're gray? Well, if you looked into my
heart, it would be completely black. I'm evil."

I turned to start exploring the castle or something,
but Dre grasped my shoulder and pulled me back. "I'm not done.

"I told you I'm a hybrid, but it's not the kind you
think." He said.

I cocked my right eyebrow up. Now he was starting to
scare me. "What?"

"I'm a werewolf, like you, and I also have the powers
of a sprite. But then, there's a third side," He said slowly, a
faraway look in his eyes, which were slowly starting to morph
from dark brown to red.

"Melita," I realized the gravity of what he was going
to say, since he was using my full name instead of just Mel. "I
take people's souls. I…kill people. And since they don't have
souls, they turn into wraiths or poltergeists, and wander in the
space between Earth and the heavens."

I felt like an idiot, just standing there. One
moment, I was aware that Dre was talking, and when he had
finished, I felt like I was frozen until the severity of what he
said finally hit me. One moment, I felt like I was completely
fine, and the next, I was shaking uncontrollably and backing away
from him.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, completely
frightened from what he said. I back away from him slowly, my
eyes trained on him the whole time. "You kill people? You take
away their chances of ever going to heaven or hell?"

Dre bit his lip and reached out with his arm, but I
backed away like it was the plague. He looked at me with hurt
eyes, but I didn't care. I didn't want to have to do anything
with him.

"I don't choose to do it, Mel," He blurted out, like
he wished he could take his words back. "It just…happens. And
when I refuse the urge, it just gets worse, to the point where
I'm in pain." He explained.

"So what!" I cried. I couldn't believe what I was
hearing. I couldn't believe that the person who I was somewhat in
love with stole people's souls. He killed them.

"Who cares if you're in pain? That's good! That way,
you won't harm anyone!" I yelled. I wanted to slap him, but then
another part of me didn't even want to touch him. And yet another
part of me wanted me to drop into the denial, to not believe
anything he was saying. It had to be a joke.

"I never take a soul from anyone I know," He said.
The tears were muddling all the colors together; I could barely
even see Dre clearly. "I would never take them if I didn't have
to, Mel. I wish I could change, because I can't. Him," He paused
to turn and point to the staircase. "My father, put this curse on
me, and I can't change. I can't." Dre said, walking
towards me, trying to grab me.

"Don't touch me!" I warned as he started to advance.
"Don't come near me."

He reluctantly stopped a few feet away from, a grim
look on his face. "Do you still love me?"

I looked at him. He was being ridiculous. He had just
told me he needs to kill people to survive, and he's asking if I
still love him? What was his problem?!

"I don't know," I said bitterly. I couldn't believe
him. How could he just kill people? What, he killed 90 year old
seniors who were happy with their life, and they deserve to
wander around Earth for eternity, just because so a teenage guy
wouldn't be in 'pain' anymore?

"No, of course not!" He said immediately, like the
idea was ludicrous. "I said I don't kill people I know."

"Oh, right," I laughed humorlessly, "You only kill
strangers. You're such a good Samaritan, Dre."

"I didn't choose to do what I do!" He yelled,
suddenly stepping close to me. His eyes were completely
blood-red, and it hurt my own eyes to even look at him. "You
think I like killing people? You think I like damning them to
Earth for eternity? Well, I don't!"

Although it did hurt to look into his eyes, I tried
not to let it phase me as our shouting match began to escalate.
"Then don't take people's souls anymore! Just stop doing that!"

"I did!" He yelled even louder, the green vein in his
neck throbbing. "It was either keep taking the souls or become
fully evil. So I chose evil."

A sigh of relief was lifted from my heart. I ran over
to him, still a little shaken by the whole thing, but I found
myself hugging him tightly, my face buried deep into his chest to
smother the tears.

"You scared me to death," I said, my voice a little
shaky, just like my fingers.

"I'm still not done, Mel," Dre said flatly.

I was confused as he pushed me away from me, not even
hugging me back. Not looking at me, he said, "Since I chose evil,
it meant that I had to be just like my father."

"That's not important," I said impatiently. "We can
go now. You don't have to tell me about the Twilight Elements.
You've told me everything I need to know. We can leave now." I
started to pull on his hand, facing the exit.

"In order to be like my father, who wants to rule
over the entire kingdom," I stopped in my tracks once he said
that. I slowly turned back around.

"I have to kill you. So he can rule like he wants
to." He finished, no emotion in his face whatsoever.

"And I haven't," He said with extreme tones of 'duh'
in his face. "And if I don't, I die."

"But I don't want you to die!" I cried out
immediately. I grabbed onto his shirt with both hands, yelling at
him hysterically. "Dre, you CAN'T die! Oh my god, what are we
going to do?! We have to run away. We'll run away to Alaska
together, we'll just leave notes at home. We'll live there. We'll
be fine." I babbled on.

"B-but…" I trailed off. "Then, how are you going to
survive? …You're not going to kill me, are you?"

"I would never kill you," He said. "Don't even play
like that."

"But I wasn't," I protested. "Dre, what are we going
do? If you're not going to kill me, and you're definitely not
killing yourself, then what are we going to do."

"I'm going to have to kill my father." He said
simply, like it wasn't a big deal- which it totally was. You
don't just go around planning pre-meditated murder. Was that
repetitive? Did I even have to put the planning part in there?
Because pre-meditated means planned ahead.

Dre gave me a weird look. "You have the weirdest
mind."

"Eh," I shrugged. "You get used to it."

We took another look at the castle behind us and then
towards the door. "Open." He murmured, and we walked through. We
walked down the path we had just come through, and walked all the
way down the black staircase and into the first castle.

"What do we do now?" I asked as we finally stopped
walking.

Dre shrugged at me. "I take you home now. And we plan
how to kill my father."

"I guess so," I said. I walked behind Dre as he
opened the door - to his mind. Opening the door to your own mind;
doesn't that sound so Inception-like? - and beckoned me
to follow him. Again, we were greeted by the dying fields of
flower and the rows and rows of dull gray.

"Why is your mind so…dark?" I asked, and then
realized how stupid that question sounded.

"Because I'm dark…" He said slowly, giving me a
questioning look.

"Alright then, I totally feel like an idiot," I
admitted. Now that things were (kinda) back to normal, I was
getting that nervous feeling I ever got when I was around Dre
alone.